Advik S Mohan

On 03 October, Shalva Papuashvili, Speaker of the Georgia Parliament signed the Anti-LGBTQ+ bill into law. The bill imposing restrictions upon the LGBTQ+ community in Georgia was approved by the lawmakers on 17 September but Salome Zourabichvili, President of Georgia refused to sign. This provided five days for the speaker of the Parliament to sign into law. The bill includes a ban on same-sex marriage and adoption by same-sex couples, demonstrations showing gender identity, and showing LGBTQ+ content on the media or through the education system. This comes amidst concerns over increasing homophobia in Georgia, promoted by the ruling party Georgian Dream with the implicit support of the Georgian Orthodox Church. It also threatens to further the tense relations between Georgia and the EU.

What is the bill and what is its background?
In September, the Parliament of Georgia approved a new bill imposing restrictions on the LGBTQ+ community.  84 voted in favour out of 150 in the Georgian parliament who were only from the ruling Georgian Dream party. The provisions of the bill include a ban on same-sex marriage, adoption by same-sex couples, and public gatherings or demonstrations accused of promoting gender identity and same-sex relationships. Additionally, the bill bars gender-affirming care and gender changes, open LGBT Pride events, and public displays of the rainbow pride flag.  According to the bill, radio and television channels will be banned from showing scenes or advertising that promote same-sex marriages. Teaching LGBT content in the education system would also be restricted. Another component of the bill was the declaration of 17 May as a public holiday and a day to mark the sanctity of the family and respect for parents.

Discussions for a potential ban on LGBT propaganda in Georgia began in 2023, after Fridon Injia, a member of the pro-government European Socialists party stated he would draft a bill to combat LGBT propaganda. According to Injia, the LGBT propaganda was against the Georgian family and would negatively impact the mentality of a Georgian man. The same year, Irakli Garibashvili, the Prime Minister of Georgia at the time stated LGBT propaganda was being used to change the traditional values followed by the majority in society. Following the line of Garibashvili, several members of his party, Georgian Dream took a more aggressive stance, condemning what they perceived as LGBT propaganda. Several leading figures from the party such as Mamuka Mdinaradze, parliament’s majority leader, and Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of the capital of Tbilisi alleged that LGBT propaganda was being spread to young children at kindergartens and schools, negatively influencing the younger generation. Georgian Dream figures defended the prospective bill in Georgia as a necessary step required to protect the Christian values of Georgia, and the children from being influenced by LGBT content. However, government officials such as Mdinaradze stated they were not against the rights of the LGBT community, only against the spreading of propaganda.

What has been the response to the bill?
Shalva Papuashvili, Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia stated that the bill was an essential step against “LGBT propaganda” which was “altering traditional relations.”  Irakli Kobakhidze, Prime Minister of Georgia stated the bill was a tool to improve the perception amongst Georgians of Europe as a place of traditional and Christian values, rather than LGBT propaganda. The bill is viewed by the ruling party and its supporters as a key step required to combat what they perceive to be LGBT propaganda being spread in Georgia. They are also of the opinion that the bill will help preserve the traditional moral values of Georgia. The bill was criticized by opposition parties in Georgia. Tamar Chergoleishvili, the leader of the liberal European Georgia party stated Georgian Dream was creating artificial problems in the country. Other opposition parties in Georgia like Droa, the Georgian Labour Party and the Citizens Party also criticized the bill, alleging that it was being used as a way to distract the population from the misgovernance of the government and create non-existent enemies. The stance of the opposition parties is driven by their liberal outlook, as well as the opportunity to target the government over the issue of the anti-LGBT bill. Salome Zourabichvili, President of Georgia criticised the bill and promised to veto it. However, the centre-left Georgian Dream party has strong parliamentary support which means it can override a potential presidential veto.  On the other hand, Tamar Jakeli, the Director of Tbilisi Pride, a campaign group stated the bill was the “most terrible thing” to happen to the LGBTQ community in Georgia. It is feared the bill could worsen homophobia and attacks on the LGBTQ community in a country where same-sex marriage is already prohibited.

Why was the Georgian Orthodox Church pushing the case?
The Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC) has enjoyed a historically dominant role in Georgia. The GOC was considered as essential to ensure the traditional Orthodox heritage and protection of Georgian culture during the decades of Soviet rule. A constitutional agreement signed between the GOC and the State of Georgia in 2002 provided the GOC with special privileges such as exemptions from taxes and a special consultative role with the government. The dominance of the GOC also helps explain the homophobia prevalent in Georgian society. The Church has always opposed the LGBTQ community, regarding them as a threat to Georgian culture. In 2013, Ilia II, the Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church referred to homosexuality as an “anomaly and disease.” The same year, rallies in Georgia to mark the International Day against Homophobia were attacked by demonstrators affiliated with the GOC.  Attacks on LGBT groups in Georgia have been increasingly common. On 05 July 202, conservative groups affiliated with the GOC attacked the offices of Tbilisi Pride and the Shame Movement, a liberal activist group. In July 2023, Pride Week was cancelled after an attack by conservative groups. While the GOC has condemned violence, its leaders have continued to perpetuate hatred against the LGBT community. The rhetoric of the GOC has some support in the conservative Georgian society. A survey by the UN in 2022 showed 56 per cent of respondents believed the LGBT community needed to be protected, but must not impose its way of life on others.  The Georgian government has also supported the GOC’s homophobic position through its rhetoric and policies like the recent law. Tamar Jakeli, the Director of Tbilisi Pride stated the attacks on the LGBT community gave the government a scapegoat to distract citizens away from issues like poverty and inflation.

The GOC’s homophobic rhetoric also reflects its concerns over increasing liberalism in Georgian society, and a shift towards the EU. According to an opinion poll conducted by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in 2023, 79 per cent of respondents were in favour of closer ties with the EU.  The GOC fears a loss of its power and influence if Georgia moves more towards the West and the EU.  In its bid to avoid gravitating extensively toward the West, the GOC has received substantial support from Georgian Dream, the ruling party of Georgia since 2012.  

What has been the government’s response?
In recent years, the Georgian Dream has moved more towards a conservative nationalist position. An example of this is the ‘foreign agents’ law passed by the government. The bill stated civil society and media organizations receiving over 20 per cent of their funding from abroad would be labelled as ‘foreign agents.’  It is believed that the bill was prompted by criticism from the EU that the Georgian government was eroding democracy in the country, and a set of conditions required for making Georgia a candidate for EU membership such as sanctioning Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and honorary chairman of Georgian Dream.  Conservatives in Georgia reacted harshly to the demands, accusing the EU of attempting to undermine Georgian sovereignty. Four parliamentarians from Georgian Dream left the party to form a new party called People’s Power. The goal of People’s Power was to reveal the agenda of the EU and the US to destroy Georgian democracy. The party also alleged that Western Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Georgia were trying to overthrow the Georgian government. Irakli Kobakhidze, Prime Minister of Georgia promised to cooperate with the new party. The government introduced the Foreign Agents Bill to end foreign interference and protect Georgian sovereignty. However, civil society and opposition parties in Georgia criticized the bill as an attempt to stifle media diversity and freedom of opinion in Georgia.  The bill sparked the largest protests in Georgia since independence.

Will the bill affect Georgia’s relationship with the EU?
The recent shift of the Georgian government has severely impacted its relationship with the EU. On 09 July 2024, the EU informed the accession process of Georgia to the EU was halted as a result of the foreign agents law. Additionally, USD 32 million in military aid for the Ministry of Defence of Georgia was frozen. Georgian hopes of joining NATO and cultivating close ties with the US government also suffered a blow. Washington suspended the annual Noble Partner military exercises held with Georgia and imposed a visa ban on top politicians from Georgian Dream. Apart from the Foreign Agents Law, a potential point of contention in Georgia-EU relations has been the Georgian government attempting to maintain cordial ties with the Government of the Russian Federation. After the invasion of Ukraine, the Georgian government did not impose sanctions upon Russia and trade ties have continued. The recent bill on foreign agents and the anti-LGBT law in Georgia has drawn comparisons to similar laws passed by the Russian government. Russia supported the Georgian government during the recent protests, in comparison to the reaction of the EU. According to analysts, the shared conservative values between the Georgian and Russian governments on issues like LGBT rights and the EU’s emphasis upon liberalism had contributed to a thaw in ties between Georgia and Russia. Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of Georgian Dream and the former Prime Minister of Georgia accused the West of trying to undermine Georgian sovereignty and being responsible for Georgia’s problems. However, while some have feared Georgia becoming a Russian satellite state like Belarus, the reality is more nuanced. Since a 2008 war with Georgia, Russia has recognized the breakaway territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Georgia and supported them. The Russian government has shown little sign of changing its position, despite the Georgian government promising to restore the territorial integrity of Georgia. Thus, Georgia is unlikely to become a full-fledged ally of Moscow, unless the border issue is resolved. Nevertheless, Georgia faces the prospect of slipping into greater authoritarianism and a more anti-Western stance, with the existing government. The upcoming parliamentary elections on 26 October have been called as a battle for the country’s future. Salome Zourabichvili, the President of Georgia stated the country faced a choice between a secure European future and moving into Russia’s orbit. The Georgian government has also been trying to move closer with the Government of the People’s Republic of China, joining the Belt and Road Initiative and allowing a Chinese consortium to construct a port on the Black Sea coast. If Georgian Dream wins the elections, the country is likely to continue its antagonism towards the West. Additionally, Georgia is unlikely to receive membership in the EU and NATO soon, pushing it further away from the West and more towards other states like China and Russia.

References
Felix Light, “Georgian parliament approves law curbing LGBT rights,” Reuters, 18 September 2024
Sophiko Megrelidze and Dasha Litvinova, “Georgian parliament approves anti-LGBTQ legislation, echoing measures in Russia,” Citrus Country Chronicle, 17 September 2024
Natalie Sabanadze, “Who Is Afraid of Georgian Democracy?,” Carnegie Europe, 17 May 2023
“NDI POLL: Georgian citizens remain committed to EU membership; Nation united in its dreams and share challenges,” NDI, 11 December 2023
Felix Light, “What’s at stake in Georgia’s October election?,” Reuters, 27 September 2024 Brawley Benson, “Georgia taking authoritarian turn with adoption of foreign agents legislation,” EurasiaNet, 14 May 2024
Sophiko Megrelidze and Lorne Cook, “EU halts Georgia’s accession to the bloc, freezes financial aid over much-criticized law,” AP News, 09 July 2024
Daniel Boffey, “ ‘Georgia is now governed by Russia’: how the dream of freedom unravelled,” The Guardian, 17 May 2024
Matthew Tostevin, “The Country that NATO and the West are Losing to Russia,” Newsweek, 27 August 2024
Davit Aprasidze and David S. Siroky, “Georgia is on the verge of turning back to Russia,” The Hill, 12 May 2024

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